Why did they have to pick AE?

Reported abuse.

Hi Dave,

I think that this post is probably better served in the Video Lounge. Hope that's OK with you.

Thanks,
Kevin

These days you don't have to worry too much about dealing with interlaced video, obscure CoDecs, broadcast specs and whatnot. There are sensible presets everywhere and a million tutorials for everything. Therefore I don't think it's too much too ask to at least do us the favor and look up some of these things.

Just because they're not dealing with interlaced video, etc, doesn't mean they're not running into other confusing issues with the newer technology and features. Adobe has introduced hundreds of new features since we first learned AE that can seem just as daunting. And don't forget, we have 10-20 years of experience under our belts. Yeah, we can ask them to look these things up, and I encourage us to continue to do that; that also doesn't mean the answer they find will be clear-cut especially in today's world where there are millions of tutorials for everything. I can see how someone would rather attempt to hold an actual conversation with someone vs sift through video after video trying to find an answer. And if someone doesn't ask a question in a courteous manner, then call them out on it and move on.

It's all about motivation and trying, and clearly if I see someone just being lazy, I don't feel compelled too much to let myself be abused.

No one said to let yourself be abused, I certainly haven't. I wouldn't tolerate that either, but there's a difference between addressing the problem (or ignoring these kinds of people) and actively posting in a thread not "getting" why they're creating audio-visualizers and ridiculing them for doing so. Should we really care what they're creating more than we appreciate that they are creating?

Again, I totally get the frustration, especially with people who fail to do a little bit of homework before swinging by and asking tons of questions. I don't think anyone is arguing that issue. My point is lamenting about it and judging them for what they're trying to do (create audio visualizers, for example) is not helpful in any way, for anyone, particularly in a public forum like this. This is akin to 1st-grade teachers walking into the cafeteria at lunch and openly ridiculing their students for not understanding addition and subtraction. I'm sure conversations are held in private about some frustrations, but a good teacher will recognize a recurring problem and seek solutions among peers to solve it.

This conversation easily could've been a presentation of the problem and a discussion of possible ways to address that problem within the community.

Whether it be sticky posts with useful resources for newbies or a strategy to point a lot of these simple questions towards the help, FAQ, or other threads for example. Or possibly even ways to address the problem outside of the forums with Adobe's assistance – personally I've never easily found my answer in the Help section of the Adobe apps; the first thing I do is Google my question or problem. I think that right there is an example of an issue that could be brought up with Adobe as feedback. Cinema4D has the best 'Help' assistance I've ever seen. Right-click on anything in the UI and show that element in the help doc; that's a beautiful implementation that actually got me to use the in-app Help and something like it would be a wonderful addition to the program.

None of this is brought up in this thread, and that's the issue I'm trying to point out. To be honest, the reason why I even clicked into this topic is because I saw Dave's name attached to it. Like many others, I've seen him all over the Creative Cow forums and his answers often guided me in the right direction for my similar problems; he's even address my question specifically. Because of his veteran status I was inclined to stop in and see what he was helping with/discussing.

It's a bit disheartening to read through this and makes me wonder if I'd ever stumbled across a forum post like this about stuff I was interested when I was first starting, especially on Adobe or Creative Cow's forums, if I would've ever gotten involved in the community or even pushed to teach myself AE.

I won't belabor my point any longer, I think you guys get where I'm coming from. The short of it is I understand the venting and issues on the forums; instead of complaining and ridiculing, let's try to be constructive in our criticism and seek proper solutions for the problems we notice. As educators, people do look up us (more-so you veterans) for guidance. No matter how rude these "students" can be, we have an obligation to try to set them on the right path even if it includes slapping their hand every now and then for their rudeness. We should be setting an example, not fanning the flames.

PS. I'd be remiss for not thanking the vets around here for all your help and insight. You have more impact than perhaps you realize, especially for people like myself who used to lurk the forums. I'm not sure I would've developed my skills as much without your posts and contributions to the community.

To be honest, I'm a little disappointed this is kind of thing being posted on the here. I'm no saint, but this kind of talk seems juvenile and counterproductive.

I don't mean to offend, especially because I recognize a few of you and you're always super helpful on the various forums. I just think that complaining doesn't really accomplish anything. Instead we should nudge them in the right direction and to the resources available. I remember when I first started messing around in AE I had no idea how capable and robust the app was, much-less how many resources existed outside of Andrew Kramer and Creative.

Why AE? Because that's what all of the other YouTube kiddies are using. I think we know who we can "blame" for a lot of that. He sits in the left seat of your moving images aeroplane.

Honestly, I don't mind people trying to learn AE. I mind people who try to use it without learning it.

I mean, you don't see me running around with a violin complaining that I don't immediately sound like Lindsey Stirling!

Yeah, this forum has seen better days, not just because of lazy kids doing audio visualizers and not reading the help. Not sure, though, if Motion would be the answer. They'd be just as lost there and Motion in its own way has its caveats and shortcomings...

Mylenium

I really hope that's a rhetorical question.  Because the answer/answers are obvious.